COMPAQ GRAND SLAM CUP

December 4, 1996

Mark Woodforde

MARK WOODFORDE: I don't know --

MARK WOODFORDE: Yeah. It wasn't my initial reaction. I think my initial reaction was something that I really shouldn't say up here. Then, you know, I sort of thought about it that he hasn't been playing well, the amount of matches he's played through this bad period, you know, has just been so minor, just a small amount, two matches or something since August, something incredible like that. Yeah, I mean, you know, I was giving myself a shot going out there. Although, it's not like I was going out thinking, "Yeah, I'm going to beat this guy," et cetera, et cetera. He's one guy that I haven't beaten before. My last result against him, you know, wasn't the best one. But, you know, then again, you're right, I had to try and stay positive and, you know, let him make the errors. I think that's what he's been doing when he's been losing matches - hitting a lot of balls out very quickly, et cetera. You know, I think my game plan today was just to try to keep the ball in as much as I could and let him make the errors, which he did.

MARK WOODFORDE: Obviously, there's a difference. For me to go from not winning a game to beating him, I mean, it was two years ago. I must say, when I was warming up for that match, I thought I was, you know -- back then I thought I had a very good chance of beating him. He just came out and played outstanding. I don't think I've been dealt as severe a loss as that particular time. You know, I just wouldn't want to be in his shoes, I don't think, knowing that he hasn't played too many matches and people expect a lot from him constantly. You know, he's still a great player. I just think maybe, you know, it's taken its toll on him since maybe the US Open or something. I'm not sure. I can't speak for him. Two weeks ago, coming over here, if he's been sick, he's gone back home to try to recover; then he's come back over here. It's a hell of a lot of travel to be doing.

MARK WOODFORDE: He did stay over?

MARK WOODFORDE: I didn't know that one. I would expect him to go back to the US with two weeks in between. I just think there are going to be times when he's going to put in a very lethargic match. I guess I was lucky that I've drawn him in the very last tournament he's supposed to play this year, when I'm sure he's maybe thinking of trying to get a good start for next year.

MARK WOODFORDE: Do a lot better in singles. This year has been quite incredible for both of us as far as our singles. We've reached our highest rankings. I think next year a goal for me is to better No. 19 and Todd mid-20s. I don't know if we can really speak up and say that we're going to win or we're going to try and win 12 doubles tournaments like we did this year. That's been, I mean -- I think it would be wrong for us to say we're going to try to win 12 tournaments again. Obviously, winning the French Open is the main goal for us. I mean, there's going to be a heck of a lot of pressure on us through that period, from French Open to Wimbledon, trying to secure a fifth Wimbledon title, and the Australian I think is high up on our list. We haven't won that for about four years. I just hope we're not labeled as not as good as what we were this year if we don't win, you know, as many tournaments. I think that's going to be -- I mean, we can't worry about that too much. Maybe plead to you guys. We're still going to be a great team if we don't win 12 tournaments. Doesn't necessarily mean we're not as good as we have been this year. I don't know if we can do the same.

MARK WOODFORDE: Uh-huh.

MARK WOODFORDE: I mean, I can sympathize with him in that respect. I mean, it is hard to continually get up for every tournament that you play. Maybe for me, because I'm one of the older guys, I'm 31, I've played a lot of the major tournaments. But, I think you just really set yourself goals. For me, I'm not a No. 1 singles player in the world, so I don't know what it's like. I'm sure that he struggles to set different goals for him. I definitely think once he gets back into shape and starts hitting the ball a lot smoother than what he has been, can maybe put up with some losses to different players, then he's going to be back to fighting No. 1 position with Sampras and the other guys.

MARK WOODFORDE: I'd like to be able to pull him aside and say, "How about playing a game of doubles someday?" I think that might have a positive effect on him if he can stick around. If he hasn't had a great week in singles, doubles for a guy like him, I think playing doubles will certainly help his game. It will sky rocket up. Obviously when he comes up to net, it's not one of his main strengths or anything. If he learns to play doubles a little bit better, it's going to have a great effect on his singles. It's just a matter of whether he wants to put in the time to stick around at some of the tournaments.

MARK WOODFORDE: You know, either way, if I played someone like Tillstrom or some of the other guys that aren't seeded, Stolts, for instance, I still would have gone in pretty happy with the draw because I feel I've been playing well towards the latter part of this year. The court suits me. Playing some of the top guys, I guess in the back of my mind, all of our minds, maybe they're not going to turn up as fresh as perhaps someone like myself who maybe had a week or two off. Maybe they just -- maybe the money doesn't motivate them, whatever. They've got nothing to prove by playing out the whole week. For me maybe at the beginning, it was like it's not a great draw for me to play Agassi, but it's turned out better for me now.

MARK WOODFORDE: Well, one of the positive effects of playing -- beating Agassi, you know, hopefully the opponents get not as tough. Ivanisevic is a great server. On this court, he's going to be so tough out there. I'm not frightened of playing him at all. I've beaten him a couple of times, I think, on grass courts and he's beaten me obviously a few times as well. I think Australians, maybe we -- we are playing someone like Goran, we have a game that can probably annoy him. I've got to obviously serve a bit better and stay -- not get too bothered by the points going too fast. I'm looking forward to going out and playing Goran.

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